NEWS

[PRESS RELEASE] Formula DRIFT to Launch World Championship in 2015

Long Beach, Calif.  November 20, 2013  Following the recent announcement of the merger between Formula DRIFT USA and Asia operations, Formula DRIFT has announced a World Championship series slated for 2015. Formula DRIFT will begin to operate a world championship that will be integration of the Formula DRIFT USA and Formula DRIFT Asia operations. Current Formula DRIFT USA and Formula DRIFT Asia Pro Championships will continue to run as is with the World Championship as the over arching pinnacle.

“This move is inevitable. With two firmly established operational series on at least three continents, it makes sense to link them together. Drifting is a global sport and we believe we are the global leader in the Sport. The gold standard in international motorsports is that when a championship series is able to be held on three continents, it can then be classified as a world championship, otherwise the moniker would not have real meaning,” stated Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. Weve also given ourselves plenty of time to plan and build this out so that our methodical planning can be integrated into the World Championship in a productive and meaningful way. Our focus has always been one that targets longevity and sustainability.”

Starting in 2014, Formula DRIFT will merge their USA and Asia operations with a global headquarters in Long Beach, CA and a regional office in Singapore. The merger comes after six years of successful event operations in Asia taking the Formula DRIFT Asia Championship Series to Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and earlier this year, Australia. The Formula DRIFT licensor, Driftpac will remain an integral part of the Formula DRIFT events in Asia and will continue to assist in expansion of the brand but the Formula DRIFT global operations will begin to operate each event internationally as it does with the USA Series.

In 2015, Formula DRIFT will consider some or all of the events on the Formula DRIFT USA and Formula DRIFT Asia calendar as well as possible new host venues into a points championship that will include events on at least three continents. The Formula DRIFT USA and Asia Series will still operate status quo but the new Formula DRIFT World Championship will be created to sit on top of both of the existing Series as the first global championship for drifting. The World Championship will also have its own prize purse, media package and champion. Drivers that are currently competing in both Series include Daigo Saito, Robbie Nishida, Fredric Aasbo and Ken Gushi.

Additional information will be announced prior to the start of the 2014 Formula DRIFT Pro Championship season.